KAMPALA, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- Scores of people are feared dead in the eastern Ugandan district of Bududa following a heavy downpour that triggered landslides on Thursday.
Sowed Mansur, Elgon region police spokesperson told Xinhua by telephone that the landslides occurred at Bukalasi and Buwali sub-counties.
"We have so retrieved 17 bodies and many more are feared buried as the landslides swept two villages," Mansur said.
Uganda Red Cross, a relief organization in a disaster alert said the situation in Bukalasi was tense.
"The situation is tense, people are scared and fleeing their homes for safety. Our assessment strives to reach the ground despite the heavy rains," the agency said.
The agency said the district is still experiencing heavy downpour.
Uganda National Meteorological Authority last month issued an alert about heavy rains, coupled with flooding, thunderstorms and lightening, leading to loss of lives and destruction of property.
The authority said that some mountainous parts of the country may experience landslides as the rain season enters peak.
Mountainous eastern Uganda occasionally experiences landslides during the rain season but the worst was recorded in 2010 where several landslides killed at least 300 people and left thousands homeless.
